More than 33 million illicit cigarettes seized from UK shops in major crackdown

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More than 33 million illicit cigarettes have been confiscated from retail outlets across the UK over the past year, Trading Standards has revealed.

The significant haul, which also included over 800kg of hand-rolling tobacco, represents a combined revenue value approaching £24 million.

These seizures are part of Operation CeCe, a collaborative effort between National Trading Standards and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), which has intensified its efforts to disrupt the supply and sale of illegal tobacco products.

Since 2023, when enhanced powers were introduced, penalties totalling £3.5 million have been levied against retailers and individuals involved in the illicit tobacco trade.

This illegal market is largely controlled by organised criminal gangs, who often distribute their products through shops and vape stores on high streets.

Trading Standards warned that this trade poses serious dangers to local communities, particularly to young people who can be drawn into addiction by the availability of cheaper, unregulated, and easily accessible illicit tobacco.

National Trading Standards chairman Lord Bichard said: “Illicit tobacco is not a victimless crime.

“It makes cheap tobacco more accessible, particularly to young people, undermines honest local businesses and helps fund organised criminal networks that profit from exploiting communities.

This illegal market is largely controlled by organised criminal gangs, who often distribute their products through shops and vape stores on high streets (AFP/Getty)

“These latest results show that Trading Standards is building an increasingly detailed intelligence picture of the illicit tobacco trade and using it to target enforcement where it will have the greatest impact.

“Those who choose to sell illicit tobacco should be under no illusion – the chances of being identified are growing, and we will continue working with partners to disrupt this criminal trade, protect consumers and bring offenders to justice.”

Zoe Gascoyne, director at HMRC Fraud Investigation Service, said: “Illicit tobacco undermines legitimate retailers, funds wider criminality, and harms public health while depriving our vital public services of around £1.7 billion a year.

“We will continue to work with partners like trading standards to tackle this organised criminal trade that harms our communities.

“These criminal networks don’t care who they sell to, often targeting underage buyers.

“We urge anyone with information about the smuggling, distribution or sale of illicit tobacco to report it online.”